When Does Magha Month 2027 Begin?

When Does the Month of Magha Begin in 2027?

According to the Purnimanta Panchang followed in North India, the month of Magha 2027 will begin on Saturday, 23 January. This day is Magh Krishna Pratipada. In regions that follow the Amanta Panchang, the month of Magha will begin in early February 2027, after Mauni Amavasya. In North India the month will end on Magh Purnima in February 2027.

Magha is the 11th lunar month of the Hindu Panchang, regarded as the holiest month of the year for bathing, charity, austerity and Sun worship.

In North India the month of Magha begins on the day after Pausha Purnima. The Puranas describe this month as highly meritorious. It is believed that during Magha all the gods and holy places reside at the Sangam of Prayag, so there is a tradition of bathing before sunrise every day of this month.

Panchang Element	Details
Name of the Month	Magha
Beginning in North India	23 January 2027, Saturday
Opening Tithi	Magh Krishna Pratipada
Calendar System	Purnimanta (North India)
Beginning in the Amanta Calendar	Early February 2027, after Mauni Amavasya
End of the Month	Magh Purnima, February 2027
Position of the Sun	Capricorn, then Aquarius in mid February
Sunrise in Delhi	Approximately 7:13 AM
Rahu Kaal (Delhi)	Approximately 9:50 AM to 11:10 AM
Main Deities of the Month	Lord Vishnu as Madhava and Surya Dev

The exact start date of Magha depends on the calendar system of your region. The Purnimanta Panchang is followed in regions such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Delhi.

Why Does Magha Begin on Different Days in the Purnimanta and Amanta Calendars?

In the Purnimanta Panchang the month ends on the full moon, so in North India Magha begins on the day after Pausha Purnima. In the Amanta Panchang the month ends on the new moon, so there Magha begins after Mauni Amavasya. In both systems, the tithis and festivals fall on the same day.

The Purnimanta Panchang is the reckoning system in which a lunar month ends on the full moon day.

Basis	Purnimanta Panchang	Amanta Panchang
End of the Month	On the full moon	On the new moon
Main Regions	North India	Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
Start of Magha 2027	23 January 2027	February 2027, after Mauni Amavasya
Waning Fortnight at the End of January	Magh Krishna Paksha	Paush Krishna Paksha
Dates of Fasts and Festivals	Same day	Same day

This means that the waning fortnight in the last week of January 2027 will be called Magh Krishna Paksha in North India, while in Amanta regions it will be called Paush Krishna Paksha. The tithis and festivals remain the same, only the name of the month changes.

What Is the Religious Significance of the Month of Magha?

The month of Magha is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his Madhava form and is called the month of bathing, charity and austerity. Bathing before sunrise every day, donating sesame, offering arghya (water offering) to the Sun and living a sattvic life during this month are believed to shed sins and increase merit.

The name Magha comes from Magha Nakshatra, because on the full moon of this month the Moon is usually in Magha Nakshatra. The Padma Purana describes the special glory of the Magh bath. It says that one who bathes in the morning during Magha becomes worthy of the grace of Lord Madhava.

Some key features of the month of Magha are as follows.

• The Magh Mela and a month long Kalpavas on the banks of the Sangam at Prayagraj
• A daily bath in Brahma Muhurat, called the Magh Snan
• Special importance of donating sesame, jaggery, blankets and grain
• Worship of Surya Dev and Sun festivals such as Ratha Saptami
• Basant Panchami, the festival of Saraswati, Goddess of learning
• Mauni Amavasya, the festival of silence and self reflection

What Are the Major Fasts and Festivals of Magha 2027?

In North India, the opening days of Magha 2027 bring fasts such as Sakat Chauth, Lambodara Sankashti, Kalashtami and Masik Krishna Janmashtami. After that, major festivals such as Shattila Ekadashi, Mauni Amavasya, Basant Panchami, Ratha Saptami, Bhishma Ashtami, Jaya Ekadashi and Magh Purnima fall in February.

Fast or Festival	Tithi	Date
Start of Magha (North India)	Magh Krishna Pratipada	23 January 2027, Saturday
Sakat Chauth and Lambodara Sankashti	Magh Krishna Chaturthi	25 January 2027, Monday
Vivekananda Jayanti (by Vikram Samvat)	Magh Krishna Saptami	28 January 2027, Thursday
Kalashtami and Masik Krishna Janmashtami	Magh Krishna Ashtami	29 January 2027, Friday
Shattila Ekadashi	Magh Krishna Ekadashi	Early February 2027
Mauni Amavasya	Magh Amavasya	Early February 2027
Start of Magha Gupt Navratri	Magh Shukla Pratipada	The day after Mauni Amavasya
Basant Panchami	Magh Shukla Panchami	February 2027
Ratha Saptami	Magh Shukla Saptami	February 2027
Bhishma Ashtami	Magh Shukla Ashtami	February 2027
Jaya Ekadashi	Magh Shukla Ekadashi	February 2027
Magh Purnima	Magh Shukla Purnima	February 2027

Check the local Panchang for the exact dates of the February festivals. Mauni Amavasya is regarded as the biggest bathing festival of the Magh Mela, when the greatest number of devotees reach the Sangam.

Why Is Sesame So Important in the Month of Magha?

Sesame is regarded as the holiest item in the month of Magha. The very name Shattila Ekadashi holds 6 uses of sesame. Sesame is associated with Saturn and the ancestors and it also warms the body in the cold season. So bathing with, donating and eating sesame are all auspicious in Magha.

Shattila means the 6 kinds of use of sesame, specially prescribed on Magh Krishna Ekadashi.

Use of Sesame	Method
Sesame Bath	Mixing sesame into the bathing water
Sesame Paste	Applying a sesame paste on the body
Sesame Havan	Offering sesame into the sacred fire
Sesame Tarpan	Offering water mixed with sesame to the ancestors
Sesame Charity	Donating sesame to the needy
Sesame Food	Eating dishes made with sesame

From the point of view of Ayurveda too, sesame is an excellent food for the cold season. Laddoos made of sesame and jaggery give the body energy and warmth. In this way, the religious rules of Magha are deeply linked with the season and with health.

What Is the Method of the Magh Snan?

The Magh Snan is taken every day in Brahma Muhurat from Pausha Purnima to Magh Purnima. One bathes in a holy river or at home in water mixed with Ganga water and sesame and offers arghya to the Sun. This is followed by worship of Lord Madhava, charity and a sattvic life through the day.

1. On Pausha Purnima or Magh Krishna Pratipada, make the vow of the Magh Snan for the whole month
2. Wake every day in Brahma Muhurat before sunrise
3. Bathe in a holy river or at home in water mixed with Ganga water and black sesame
4. While bathing, recite the mantra "Gange Cha Yamune Chaiva Godavari Sarasvati, Narmade Sindhu Kaveri Jale Asmin Sannidhim Kuru"
5. Offer arghya to Surya Dev from a copper vessel and chant "Om Ghrini Suryaya Namah"
6. Worship Lord Vishnu in his Madhava form with Tulsi leaves
7. Chant "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya" 108 times
8. Donate sesame, jaggery, grain or clothes every day according to your capacity
9. Eat sattvic food through the month and, if possible, keep the rule of one meal a day
10. On Magh Purnima, conclude the Magh Snan with a bath, charity and the Satyanarayan Katha

One who cannot keep the rule for the whole month should at least bathe and give charity on the main tithis of Magha, such as Amavasya, Panchami, Saptami, Ekadashi and Purnima.

What Is the Astrological Influence of the Month of Magha?

For most of Magha the Sun stays in Capricorn, the sign of Saturn and in mid February it enters Aquarius, which is also Saturn's sign. So the month of Magha is special for worship of both the Sun and Saturn. In 2027 the month also begins on a Saturday.

Magha Nakshatra, from which the month takes its name, is ruled by Ketu and its presiding deities are regarded as the Pitrs (ancestors). So tarpan for the ancestors in Magha and ancestral rites on Mauni Amavasya are considered especially fruitful. The balance between the Sun and Saturn in this month creates a favourable atmosphere for spiritual practice.

Planet	Possible Problem	Remedy in Magha
Sun	Lack of confidence, tension with the father	Offer arghya to the Sun daily and keep the Ratha Saptami fast
Saturn	Sade Sati, Dhaiya and obstacles in work	Donate black sesame and blankets every Saturday
Ketu	Confusion and Pitru Dosha	Offer sesame tarpan to the ancestors on Mauni Amavasya
Moon	Mental unrest	Keep a vow of silence on Mauni Amavasya
Mercury	Obstacles in learning	Worship Goddess Saraswati on Basant Panchami

What Should and Should Not Be Done in the Month of Magha?

Morning baths, arghya to the Sun, donating sesame, sattvic food and worship of Lord Madhava are auspicious in Magha. Sleeping late, tamasic food, anger, gossip and polluting water sources are regarded as forbidden in this month. Even a small act of merit in Magha is believed to bear great fruit.

• Try to bathe before sunrise every day
• Be sure to add a few black sesame seeds to your bathing water
• Donate sesame, jaggery, blankets and grain
• Offer arghya to the Sun and worship Tulsi daily
• Do not sleep late after sunrise
• Stay away from meat, alcohol, onion and garlic
• Do not throw waste into rivers and ponds
• On Mauni Amavasya, take special care to avoid harsh words and idle talk

When the Inner Light Awakens in the Cold Dawn of Magha

The month of Magha teaches that austerity does not mean only enduring hardship but awakening discipline and purity within. A bath taken before sunrise in the bitter cold is a symbol of resolve winning over laziness.

This holy month, beginning on 23 January 2027, gives every seeker a chance to reshape life through sesame, water, the Sun and service. One who remembers Lord Madhava in Magha finds every dawn of life bright.

FAQ

When does the month of Magha 2027 begin?
According to the Purnimanta Panchang of North India, Magha begins on Saturday, 23 January 2027. In the Amanta Panchang it begins in early February 2027, after Mauni Amavasya.

When will the month of Magha end?
In North India the month of Magha will end on Magh Purnima in February 2027. Check the local Panchang for the exact date.

What are the major festivals of the month of Magha?
The month of Magha brings major festivals such as Sakat Chauth, Shattila Ekadashi, Mauni Amavasya, Basant Panchami, Ratha Saptami, Bhishma Ashtami, Jaya Ekadashi and Magh Purnima.

What is the Magh Snan?
The Magh Snan is the holy bath taken every day before sunrise from Pausha Purnima to Magh Purnima. It can be taken in a holy river or at home in water mixed with Ganga water and sesame.

Why is sesame donated in the month of Magha?
Sesame is regarded as the holiest item in Magha and is linked with Saturn and the ancestors. Donating sesame is considered auspicious for calming Saturn and for the blessings of the ancestors.